Sunday, January 24, 2010

When You're Afraid of Blood...

I recently had a patient brought to me from a nursing home for hip pain. The patient was quite heavy and because of the hip pain, which turned out to be broken, he was on the immobile side of mobility. Repositioning him was ideally a four person job but during a busy as hell day shift, I had to make do with only one nurse and some creative stretcher maneuvering. However, his son came in during the middle of the day to help out. This guy was amazing. He was a freaking bodybuilder (!!!!!) so he was a little stronger than me. He helped out with repositioning, changing, feeding and he was a very calming presence for his dad. So it came as a little surprise when he flat out refused to hold down his dad’s arm when I needed to resite an IV that went bad. “Uhh umm uhhh okay?” was my reply to his refusal. “Miss I’m like really afraid of blood! It’s just… so… so… RED!” I respect that so I told him not to worry as I went to grab another nurse to help me. I asked him if he wanted to stand outside the room. He stepped outside, but guilt and filial duty prompted him to come back into the room to help out just as his dad’s vein was cannulated with some blood escaping. I saw his face turn ashen and then he hit the ground with a loud thud. For a few brief seconds everyone was stunned into silence as we stared at the 6”5’ bodybuilder slumped on the ground. Luckily the nurse who was helping me had more sense than I did and rushed over to the son while I finished up with his dad’s IV. Ignoring a few bruises, the son was unharmed. “I told you I was afraid of blood miss”.

16 comments:

Julie said...

it's amazing how some people just can't handle blood isn't it. I had a friend go in to study medicine - decided not to proceed because everytime he say blood he fainted.

Anonymous said...

wow... of all the bodily fluids, blood is probably the one that phases me the least... and thats probably why I do well as a nurse. great post!

OMDG said...

Aw! Poor guy!

Alpine, R.N. said...

I'm with Anonymous. It's vomit that totally gets to me...except vomited blood, which doesnt gross me out at all. Very very odd. My EMT squad has a tacit agreement that, given vomiting patients, I will sit in the captain's chair (NOT next to the patient) and write the chart. This prevents having TWO patients :-p

Grumpy, M.D. said...

Did you get his phone number?

Glee said...

LOL! Yeah, did you get his phone #? Poor baby afraid of the big bad blood:P Ah well, I have an exercising aversion so I guess I shouldn't talk...awesome blog as always, Mahahaha:D

StorytellERdoc said...

Sounds like a great guy with one big flaw...and several bruises. Body builder and 6'5...I'll still take him! LOL Great post, maha, and funny...good writing.

woolywoman said...

poor guy! I hate snot. Everything else is ok, but it is always a bummer when there's so much of whatever that I decide to throw out my shoes.

Albinoblackbear said...

At least he had the decency to tell you...I hate it when the fam/pt doesn't--they hit the floor and THEN say "oh I always faint at the sight of blood!"

Grrr...

P.S My bro is a giant ex-military dude and he's the same way with needles. I find it hilarious. Even when I *talk* about needles he vagals. In the line of fire in Afghanistan? No prob...talk about flu shot? Hit the floor.

charmcity said...

I once had a college student tell me "I have a seizure when my blood is drawn".
(mental eyeball roll).
"Yeah, ok, I'll draw you lying down"
She proceeds to pass out, seize, and wet her pants.
Holy vasovagal!

Anonymous said...

You know in communist Russia those who were afraid of blood were subjected to Chinese water torture. ...
Or was that communist China?
Either way, you are a communist writing communist fare. Blood = money = capitalism = yo-semidi-sam-type-oil-drilling = profits. It's all there in Marx, which I'm sure you've read as you worship him.

Laney said...

Wow, I can't imagine that! I mean, I can- I know it's out there. It just surprises me. Especially when they're way buff and huge. Ah well.

PS- I'm adding you to my blogroll
=]

bludvldoc said...

When I worked at Parris Island (Marine Corps boot camp) the floors of the intake at the medical clinic, where all new recruits went to have required tests and vaccinations, were covered with wrestling mats because of all these young, brave, strong guys going down at the sight of a needle.

Megan said...

I love it. It's always the little kids that can handle the needles, but then it's the big cooool 18 year old that turns PALE white.

Halie said...

Ha! Another great post. Your writing always has the best tone.

Anonymous said...

I am a nurse whose husband is much like this guy. We don't talk about a lot of things regarding my job. And that's ok.